awaitingalbion | five >> voice & event

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five >> voice & event

Is it strange for someone to still be kidnapped after a whole month? Arthur's been gone for so long.

[He sighs. There's rustling of paper and Merlin eyes Fina's notes with great trepidation. He cannot understand why he has not had some measure of success with them. They were so charmingly written, so thoughtfully recorded. He sighs for a second time.]

Fina, you know that thing? I'm still having no luck. Perhaps I need a little more assistance.

[ooc; he's taken but after Fina comments feel free to troll him anyway, hear him sing his praises of the beautiful, magical lady of his heart!]

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Err--can I come in, Fina?

[He peeks around her shoulders, looking at the warmth of the house. Besides, he was beginning to feel a little self-conscious on her porch.]

Y-Yes! I'm sorry, please come in.

[He gets his gangly self inside. And first things first? He remembers to take off his boots. He sets them very neatly by the door--not wanting to disappoint Fina in any regard. After, he looks up from the task with a full grin.]

I-it's so quiet. Peaceful. Were you here all alone, Fina? [There's a touch of reproach with the moment.]

[ Fina strokes the stem of the rose with her finger and nods in response to his question, not being able to discern the chiding tone from his words. Being alone isn't entirely unusual for the Silvite considering her history. ]

I was, yes. Um.. I saw a girl shout for Minato over the journals earlier, so I think he's gone to see what she wants. [ She looks amused. ] And.. I wasn't entirely alone. Cupil was here with me, after all.

Cupil? Ah--of course. How could I forget? [Which means he smiles at the companion in question.]

I'm just...worried. Arthur was alone when he was taken.

... Oh, he was? Um.. I'm sorry.

[ Cupil chirps at Merlin. ] We have been all right. Cupil is perfectly capable of protecting me.

I'm...sure he is. [Merlin nods, tilting his head affectionately.] But, a lady like you? Oh, Fina. You deserve a whole battalion of knights. As soon as Arthur's back, I'll talk to him about arranging something.

[ She blinks at that and blushes. ]

That's very kind, but.. I don't think I need a battalion of knights. After all, Luceti isn't very dangerous... [ Although Rena did cut off her wing that time. Still, Merlin is acting very strange suggesting that. ] ... And I think Arthur would like a battalion of knights for himself. Um.. he is royalty, after all.

[ ... Anyway. ] Can I get you anything?

Arthur has himself--and, me. He doesn't need a whole battalion. And no, thanks. I think I'm good. Thanks for the offer, though. Very...sweet of you.

S-Sweet?

Kind. Commendable. [He takes a slow, hesitant step closer.] I mean, to offer to get something for a servant. I don't often hear that kind of offer.

[ Fina glances up at him when he takes that extra step closer to her in the hallway, feeling the stem of the rose crackle as she applies unknown pressure she did not know she held, her fingers fumbling tighter around the gift as if to replace her feet that removed to shuffle backwards. This close up, she thought, she could see just how very attractive he was... ]

... Servant? [ It was not a word she did not understand. She had heard of those, of course. Aika had ridiculed and teased Enrique about it after the Prince had helped them escape from the Grand Fortress. It was an unfamiliar word to Fina until that evening on Crescent Isle... although she was confused about it now. ]

[Merlin nods. His voice feels like it's catching in his throat--it isn't the most glamorous admission to make to a beautiful young woman. He reaches very carefully out, touching the Fina's wrist. The wrist that belongs to the hand she uses to hold the rose.]

Fina. I-I'm Arthur's servant. [He sounds concerned.] And I've been his servant for two years. Is...that a problem? I know well enough from Arthur that, often, people don't want to be friends with servants.

[ She shakes her head passionately, earrings slapping erratically against the side of her face, trying to ignore the burning sensation in her cheeks as he touches her wrist and asks that question. ] N-No, it's not a problem at all!

[ Her voice becomes softer as she looks down. ] ... I'm sorry that you felt you had to keep something like that from me. But.. it doesn't matter to me if you're.. um, Arthur's servant. Not at all... nothing could change the way I.. um, the way I feel about you, Merlin.

Feel about me? [He echoes, removing his touch from her wrist as if in fear of passing some horrible boundary. He licks his lips. So many nervous habits come out at once.] Fina. You--you're one of the finest individuals I have ever met. I guess I was worried about how someone of your quality would feel...spending time with a manservant. But--[he smiles, quietly]--I should have trusted my gut and should have known you were too good for that kind of thing.

[ She blushes, although she does not give him an explanation for her feelings for him. It's all rather confusing and she seems less flustered now he has released her wrist. ]

Q-Quality? Um.. I don't understand why anyone could think like that... you're so kind. [ She looks sad. ] ... You were worried about what I.. is it always like that in your world?

You see...Fina? [He leans away from her.] There's someone very special to Arthur, back home. Actually...she just showed up, here. Her name is Gwen. She's a servant, too. And Arthur? He could never be with her because of that. It pains him so much.

[He lowers his eyes to the ground. His fingers felt like they were shaking.] I would hate for you to ever be in pain.

[ Judging by the flicker of surprise across her face, Fina wasn't aware that someone new from his world had turned up recently. Another servant named Gwen? One that Arthur... her face falls in understanding. Enrique had spoken about the complexities of being a royal; it seemed to be universal. ]

That's so sad...

You would like Gwen. She's...nice. And we're just friends--me and Gwen. Co-workers, really. [This justification comes along fast and rushed.]

I hope being here will help the two of them.

[ Even thought it was a hasty compliment about his co-worker, she can't help but feel.. jealous about this Gwen. Spending so much time with Merlin and most likely knowing him better than she ever did right now. How strange. She never felt like this when Vyse spent time with Aika. ]

I hope so too. [ But for the wrong reasons she would come to regret later. ]

I shouldn't be such a downer. [He offers, carefully.] It's a beautiful day outside. Maybe--Fina? Would you like to go for a walk in the forest with me?

Oh... yes. I would like that.

[ She peers over his shoulder outside. She offers him a shy smile, before she says: ] Would you mind waiting while I dress in something a bit warmer...?

Go right ahead, Fina. I've got to get these boots back on, anyway.

[He grins, turning back towards the entrance. One facing away from Fina, he sighs and his smile (directed to himself) softens.]

[ She nods, before she rushes up the stairs as Cupil remains hovering in the same place, staring at Merlin blankly as he performs the mundane task of putting his boots back on. It does not take Fina long to dress in something a bit warmer and emerges again from her room upstairs in the process of pulling a hat down over her light blonde hair. ]

I'm sorry if I kept you waiting. [ She apologizes as she reaches for her scarf and wraps it carefully around her neck. Oddly enough, she still has the rose he gave her between her fingers. ]

[He looks up from retrying his second boot.] No, no harm done.

[Merlin stands up, stamping his feet in preparation for the trek.] The forests here are very nice, it seems, at this time of year. And they're not full of bandits.

[He notices the flower with a wide smile.] Come on. I've got something I'd like to show you.

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